Coal-handling apparatus



1 Nov 1927 A. ALLEN GOAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1923 4heets-Shee 1 A. ALLEN COAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 5. 1925 4Sheets-Sheet? Nov. 1 1927.

, 1 I Nov. 1 1927.- A. ALLEN ,647168 GOA L HANDLING APPARATUS FiledMarch 5, 1923 I 4 Shehts-Sheet 3 Nov. 1 1 927 A. ALLEN COAL HANDLINGAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 5, 1923 jrauerzzor Wrewa fl wPatented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES ANDREWS ALLEN, or GLE'NCOE, ILLINOIS.

COAL-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 3, 1923. Serial No. 622,480.

' My invention relates to appa'rtus for handling coal and othermaterials and has particular reference'to an apparatus for loadinghoisting skips tl e'bottom of a mine shaft, 5 and also thepro-vision ofa skip having vertical sides, one side of which is angularly disposedwith relation to the other side of the skip whereby the lading is sodistributed that the filling of the skip is facilitated and the dumpingthereof is made easier than is common in devices of this character.

The primary object of myinventionis the provision of coal handlingapparatus which is as nearly automatic in its operation as l7; possibleand by the operation of which the skips are filled to a predeterminedcapacity at the bottom of the mine shaft and with the hoisting of theskips the loading chute is automatically closed so the lading'isprevented from falling into the mine shaft, and when the skip reachesthe bottom of the shaft or in loading position the loading spout isautomatically turned into loading position so that the coal has a freepassageway down into the chute fromthe weighing pan into the skip. p

Another and further-object of my'invention is the provision of a skip,one side of which extends upward at an angle of approximately 301 fromthe vertical, which,

with the mounting provided between the bailand skip, and also the makingof the sides of the skip of different heightsv and dumping of theskiptowards the lower side, causes an easy dumping of the skip with lessrotation about its pivotal support and the discharge of the coaltherefrom with a minimum amount of shock and therefore wear and tearupon the hoisting apparatus than what has been possible heretofore.

These and further objects of my inven tion will be more fully andbetterunderstood by reference to-the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an elevational view of the lower portion of a mine shaftembodying my improved apparatus, partially in section and partially inelevation;

Figure 2is a detailed vertical sectional 50 view of the lower portion ofthe, mine shaft showingthe loading chute and skip in position to receivea load of material;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower portion of a mineshaft showing oneloading chute inoperative position and the other leading; chute inclosed position.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the latch member servingto hold the skip inposition;

C Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the segmental operating pulleyoperating the loading spout and closure therefor;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view. of the device shown inFigure 5;and

-Figure 7 is adeta'il sectional view showing the guideroller and shaftupon which the said roller is mounted and which is attached to each ofthe skips.

-Referring now specifically to the drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, a mine compartment 10 isshown having a mine car dumping apparatus 11 positioned therein, themine car 12 being shown in said dumping apparatus,

the dumping'apparatus being'mounted upon rollers 13 and 14: so that themine car is overturned and its contents discharged into a weighing pan15, two of which are provided, although only one is shown in thedrawings, which one is suspended from a scale 16, the said weighing panhaving a discharge opening 17 at the bottom thereof which is opened andclosed by means of a door 18 having a cable 19 secured thereto, the door18 being controlled by apparatus 20 so that the discharge of the-coalfrom the weighing pan 15 is controlled by the operator. In the lowerpart of compartment 10 is a frame 21 suitably supported by members 2222,the frar e 21 having a pair of loading chutes 23 and 28 positionedthereon, the upper ends of which are directly under the discharge chutes18 from the weighing pans 15 and the lower ends lead downward adjacentthe mine shaft 2& and extend into an opening 25 in the side of the mineshaft 24 and which connects the shaft 24 with the chamber 10. The mineshaft 24 is divided into a plurality of parallel extending ipassages 26and-27, each of said'passages having vertical guides 28 secured tov thesides thereof'and with which the bail 29.carrying the skip m; gages asit travels up' and down the shafts. The bail 29 is composed of a pair ofvertical members 30 and 31 which are connected together at theirlower'ends by a transversely extending shaft 32 and havesuitableconnections (not shown) at their upper ends, by means of whichthe bail 29 is secured to the hoisting cable, and have a plurality ofwearing shoes 30 secured theretowhich operate in sliding engagement withthe vertical lot) . vertical direction while the opposite side 37vguides 2828 at the sides of the shaft, these plates being tapered inlongitudinal direction so that the skip is wedged between the verticalbail members 30 and 31 and sidewise movement of the skip is prevented.In the lower portion of the shaft 24 is a floor 33 upon which the lowerend of the members 30 and 31, comprising the bail 29, rest when the skipis in position to be filled. A pair of landing shoes 3434 are secured tothe shaft 32, which has mounted thereon the skip 35, one side of which36 extends upwardly in a extends upward and outward at an angle ofapproximately 30 from the vertical, the skip thus being supported uponthe shaft 32 and rotatably mounted upon said shaft for purposes ofdumping when the skip is hoisted to the top of the shaft and is lower onthe angularly disposed side or dumping side than on the other side. Theskip is therefore triangular in shape and is supported at one side ofthe center of gravity of the load so that when the skip is being dumpedthere is a shifting of the load in the skip and the discharge of thelading therefron'i is facilitated, as the skip is dumped toward itslower angular side and the lading is discharged with less angular motionof the skip than if its dumpingside were straight. By provid ing a skiphaving one of its sides angularly disposed such as I have just describedand. mounting it upon a bail off the cent-er of the lading, the ladingwhen discharged into the skip naturally builds up toward the dischargepoint of the chute so that the center of gravity of the skip and ladin gfalls to the side of the skip adjacent to the loading chute, or to theright side of the pivot point of the skip (Fig. 2), and prevents anytendency of the skip to dump in the shaft. The relative height of thetwo sides of the skip is such as to secure the maximum capacity with askip of triangular shape and predetermined outside dimensions. .Vhenforce is applied in dump-- ing the skip at the top of the shaft, the conter of gravity of the load shifts to the left of the pivot point and thedischarge of the lad ing commences almost immediately and is so rapidand smooth that the shock and breakage common to the dumping of arectangular skip is entirely eliminated. If the lading will flow on'aangle, a skip with a 30 discharge side need be rotated only 105 in orderto completely discharge its lading, instead of 135 as required in arectangular skip. This small angularity of mo- 7 tion has the furtheradvantage of great ra pidity and smoothness of discharge, less verticalmotion during dumping, which means a lower head frame, and a minimumdrop of the lading onto the discharge chute, also a greater load on thebail and cable, which means a betterhoisting cycle and evening of poweras compared with a rectangular skip.

around the members 41 and. over pulleys 49' secured to the upper end ofthe frame 21, which has counterweights 5050 at the opposite ends thereofmovable in guideways 5151 resting upon the floor of the chamber 10.Extending transversely across the top of the skip 35 is a shaft 52having guide pulleys 53 and 54 on the outer ends there-of, said shaftbeing secured to the skip by means of bearing brackets 5555. Pivotallymounted by means of pins 56-56 upon each side of the shafts 26 and 27 isa pair of sword arms 57 and 58 to which the cables 45 are attached whichlead to the segmental pulleys 41 operating the gate 39. The shape of thesword arms 57 is such that when the skip is lowered into the bottom ofthe shaft the pulleys 53 and 54 engage the said arms 57 at their upperends (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1), and as the skip is loweredthe arm 57 is pushed backward, turning the segmental gate 39 down intothe position shown in Figure 2 and bringing the chute 40 over the upperedge of the skip 35 so that coal or other lading is directed into theskip 35. Guide arms 57 are provided, which are secured to the sides ofthe mine shaft 27, which support the sword arms at their upper ends andhold them in proper alignment. Upon the skip 35 being filled, thehoisting operation commences and as the car is lifted the counterweights5050 turn the segmental pulley 41 in a clockwise direction bringing thegate 39 up over the end of the top chute 23 and closing the end turningits spout 40 in a vertical direction and free of the shaft. The shaft 52is held in position by means of a lag bolt 58 with the guide pulley 54havmg a hub portion on its inner side thereof, with an annular groove 60therein within one end of a bracket 61, which in turn is held to-theskip by means of cap screws 62, so that cotter pins or other means ofholding thelpulleys 54 and 55 in position is dispensed wit 1.

A pair of locking devices 63 and 64 are provided on each side of theskip (one of such members shown in detail in Figure 4) for the purposeof holding the skip in an upright position with respect to the bail 29.These locking devices consist of a housing 65 on the side of the skipwhich is secured thereto by means of rivets 66-66 with a latch 67pivotally mounted on abracket 68,

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' skip is held rigidly between the upright the latch having a pin 69secured. thereto around which a coil spring 70 1s positioned,

' which is interposed between the outer wall of the housing 65 and thelatch 67, the latch -67 being held in the: position shown in Figure inposition to engage the bail 30 so. as to prevent the sk pfroni turningupon the shaft 32 until after the latch is released. The

members of the bail some 31, a wearing plate 72 being secured to eachside of the skip and extending across the topthereof,

this plate being tapered in end toflend relation, as shown in Figure 4E,and operating in sliding engagement with wearing plugs 7 l7 4 secured inany suitable manner 'to the inner faces of the bailuprights 30 and 31,

- the taper of the plates causing the skip to make a wedge fit betweenthe bail members and 31 and holding the skipsecurely and rigidly inposition. The flange 75 on the brackets are provide don each side of theskip to act as a stop and abuts against the upright bail portions 30 and31 and the the dumping direction.

wearing plugs 7 L secured thereto, so that the skip is locked betweenthe latches 67 and the stops 75 and is also prevented from turning inthe bail in a direction opposite to The latches extend through slots 71inthe sidesof the skip and the wearing plates 7 2 and73 and engage thewearing plugs 74 when the skip .is held in vertical position, so thatthe skip is held securely in vertical position until the latches arereleased, usually by a releasing mecha nism in the tipple. whichconsists of a curved angle or track which engages th'e latches 67 andmoves them back against thezspring to a point where the beveled end 65will slide past wearing strip when the skip is moved forward in processof overturning.

flVhen the skipis lowered after'dumping, the beveled end 67 of the latch67 slides againstthe beveled edges of the wearing plugs 7 4 into properposition where the latch is closed by the spring 70 after the skip hasbeen brought to a vertical position and the latches have been releasedby the engaging members mounted in the tipple.

The parts hereinabove described are duplicated for the sections of theshaft 27, and it will be understood that a pair of skips may be providedwhich are secured to each end of a hoisting cable, so that while one isbeing dumped at the top of the shaft the other is receiving its ladingat the bottom of the shaft, one of which is described in detail above,the other skip descending in the passage 27 before the loading chute 23which operates in the same manner and has the same combination of partsas is de car 21 into the weighing pan 15 is weighed by the operator andheld into position until the skipis at the bottom of the mine shaft,which, as the skip descends, as hereinabove described, opens thedischarge chute 23 by turning the gate 39- down into position shownin'the drawings (Fig'uresil and 2). Thereupon the lading in the scalepan 15 is discharged through the opening 17 by opening the gate 18 andallowing the coal to pass by gravity down through the chute 23 into theskip 85. As soon as this operation is completed, the hoisting of theskip automatically closes the discharge chute 23, which retains anyscatteringpieces oflcoal or other material in the chute 23 until theskip 35 is atthe bottom of the shaft ready torece ive its lading again,so that the control of this chute is entirely dependentupon the positionof the skip and is entirelyautomatic in its action and its position issuch abovethe skip that the lading is distributed throughout the entireskip. While I have described more or less precisely the details ofconstruction, I do not wish to be understood as limitinginyself thereto,as I contemplate changes'in form and theproportion' of parts and thesubstitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or renderexpedient without departing from the spirit or. scope of my inven tion,such as the substitution o'f-a rotary counterweight rigidly connected tothe back framework of the gate339, or theisubstitution of a strut orcable connection to a lever on the gate 38 as a-substitute for thesegmental pulley 41. i I claim:

' 1. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip,a bail to which said hoisting skip is pivot-ally secured, a conveyingchute leading to the mine shaft, a pivotally mounted arcuate shapedcounter-- weighted closure member having a discharge spout leadingtherefrom, pivotally. mount ed arm secured to the side of the said mineshaft, means for pivotally -mounting said arm in a line parallel withthe longitudinal movement of the said hoisting skip. the said armextending substantially in a vertical position, connecting means betweenthe said arm and the said closure member and means upon the saidhoisting skip for. engagement with the said arm.

2. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip. abail to which said hoisting skip is secured a. conveying chute leadingtothe mine shaft, a rotatably mounted counterweighted closure member forsaid chute having a discharge spout at the upper portion thereof,apivotally mounted arm secured to the side of the mine shaft, the saidarm extending in a direction substantially parallel to the direction ofthe I nections between said arm and said closure member whereby the saidclosure member is operated, and means upon the said skip for engagementwith the said arm.

3. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip, abail to Which said hoisting skip is secured. a conveying chute leadingto the mine shaft, a rotatably mounted counterweighted closure memberfor said chute having adischarge spout at the upper portion thereof, apivotally mounted curved arm, pivotally mounted means on the side of themine shaft inside of the path of movement of the mine skip, connectionsbetween said curved arm and said closure member whereby the said closuremember is operated, and means upon the said skip for engagement with thesaid curved arm.

4;. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip, abail to which said hoisting skip is pivotally secured, a conveying chuteleading to the mine shaft, a rotatably mounted arcuate shaped closuremember for said chute. curved arms mounted upon the side of the mineshaft, a roller carried by said hoisting skip adapted to engage thearms, a segment to which said closure member is secured, connectingmeans between the said segment and said arm, and a counterweight tooperate said closure member in the opposite direction.

5. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip, abail to which said hoisting skip is p'ivotally secured, a conveyingchute leading to the mine shaft. a rotatably mounted arcuate shapedclosure member for said chute, curved arms mounted upon the side of themine shaft, a pair of rollers carried by said hoisting skip adapted toengage the arms, a pair of segments to which said closure member issecured, connecting means between the said segments and said arms, and aweight adapted to counter act the force exerted by the hoisting skipupon the said curved arms and to return said closure member to closedposition.

6. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip, abail to which the said skip is pivotally mounted, stops carried by thesaid skip on the dumping side thereof, pivotally mounted latch memberson the opposite side of said skip adapted to engage said bail, taperedwearing plates on each side of the said skip and cooperating wearingmembers secured to the said bail Whereby the skip is wedged between theupright bail members.

7 Goal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip, abail upon whichv the said skip is pivotally mounted, transverselyextending wearing plates secured to said skip, cooperating wearing plugssecured to the said bail stops on the dumping side of the said skip,latches on the opposite side of said skip adapted to engage the saidbail, the said wearing plates and wearing plugs having a wedging effectupon each other when the skip is in upright position.

8. Coal handling apparatus comprising in combination a hoisting skip, abail to which said hoisting skip is pivotally secured. a conveying chuteleading to the mine shaft, a rotatably mounted arcuate shaped closuremember for said chute, curved arms mounted upon the side of the mineshaft and having their pivotal point in alignment with the path ofmovement of the mine skip, rollers carried by said hoisting skip adaptedto en gage the arms, a crank member carried by said closure member,connecting means between the said crank member and the said arms, and acounterweight adapted to oper ate said closure member to a closedposition.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this first day of March, 1923.

ANDREWS ALLEN.

